TRAVELLER ALERT: Unrest in the Maldives

Political turmoil hits the Indian Ocean island paradise

The president of The Republic of Maldives, Abdulla Yameen, declared a 15-day state of emergency yesterday, February 5, and China, America, the UK and India have already issued travel warnings to their citizens.

Government WarningsThe UK Government statement read: “On February 5, the Maldives government declared a state of emergency; security forces have been deployed in the capital Malé in response to political developments; if you're in Malé, you should exercise caution and avoid any protests or rallies; there are no reports that outlying islands, resorts or Malé International Airport are affected.”

The unrest is the result of a dispute between the Maldives’ Yameen-led Government and its Supreme Court, which overturned criminal convictions against a group of President Yameen’s political opponents, including former Maldives President Mohammed Nasheed (who’s currently in the UK under asylum), ordering their release and retrials. Following the arrests of the Supreme Court Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed and Judge Ali Hameed, President Yameen is now facing questions from the international community and his opponents over freedom of speech, the detention of opponents and the independence of the judiciary in his country.

BackstoryPresident Yameen was elected into office in 2013, following the controversial resignation and subsequent arrest of Mohammed Nasheed in 2015. Former human rights campaigner Nasheed was charged under anti-terrorism laws for the allegedly unlawful arrest of a judge during his term in office; he was sentenced to 13 years imprisonment. The nation's first democratically elected leader, Nasheed came into power in 2008. He succeeded former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, who presided over the country for 30 years, but has now allied himself with the opposition and, according to the BBC, is presently being detained at his Maldives home.

ResolutionWhile opponents are calling for President Yameen’s resignation, the Maldivian economy hangs in the balance. Tourism is the country’s biggest industry, worth AED 9.6bn in 2016, and could be severely impacted if the crisis worsens.